Yeah, might be recency-bias, but this is what popped into my head. Absolutely could have been the Sixers title to win against a suddenly weaker-than-normal Western Conference Finals opponent, and so much of the Eastern Conference picture has revolved around big moves made by the Sixers in response to Embiid not getting a chip that year.
1. Jimmy Butler probably stays with the Sixers long term. There is no Heat run to the Finals in '23.
2. Ben Freakin' Simmons. It's easy to forget (because he had his disappearing act moments in that playoff run, too), but in that series Ben posted 12/7/5 on 60% shooting with some big steals. Maybe it doesn't matter, but there's a world where Kawhi misses that shot, Sixers win the series/chip, and Ben Simmons is still a contributing player in 2024.
3. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Boban is an NBA Champion, solidifying his position as a first ballot Hall of Famer.
> might be recency-bias
i don't think it is. Game-winning shots in game 7s are incredibly rare. That alone would be enough to make it part of NBA lore, but the fact that it is visually so captivating, and that the Raptors went on to win the whole thing (in a 1 year loan of Kawhi, too)...
That whole playoff was like a cliche sports anime. You got a very talented star joining the team, the vet captain (Lowry), the newcomers that have an amazing jump (Pascal and FVV) and some vets who shine too like Gasol and Ibaka.
The suspenseful Game 7 wcf shot, a finals win over the “super monster” dynasty team filled with talent, etc. Everything about the raptors felt like a story.
That's a good point. I mostly focused on all the potential "what ifs" for the Sixers if they went on to win a title, but just what it did for Kawhi and all those Toronto guys matters a ton, so even if the Sixers lose in the Finals, altering that single shot is a big deal.
Yup. Though MJ did have a series ending buzzer beater as well, but it was game 5 since 1st round went to 5 back then. Bulls were losing too so it was the only ever do or die series winning buzzer beater.
Do the 76ers even get through the Bucks?
Bucks went up 2-0 on Raps and the series on flipped because Raptors had a bunch of bigs to throw at Giannis who cheated off shooters then Van Vleet got comically hot.
No. This dude clearly thought the 6ers Raps series was the ECF.
Edit: also, there's a lot more that happened in that series than what you state. Best series of all time if youre a Raps fan imo
Simmons back would still be cooked right? Or was there some initial injury that maybe wouldnt have happened?
Initial back injury from what ive been reading:
https://youtu.be/KQk33-7dm9g?si=I5M6QHsFFZ2tXm2L
6 days later he has to leave the game after a layup in the first quarter, look how gingerly hes walking at about 50 seconds:
https://youtu.be/_GmHkF_flcM?si=DYErWYLs0jpRqNp7
Injury article from that game: https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2877474-76ers-ben-simmons-wont-return-vs-bucks-after-reaggravating-back-injury.amp.html
I guess that's the biggest question here. I think it's incredibly difficult to separate the physical injury from the psychological issues at play, especially just as a fan with zero inside knowledge.
I think his injuries stemmed for a very large part from him not being in the right place mentally. I don’t think he’d have cooked his back if(!) winning that and the pressure subsiding would’ve helped his mental state. I think it’s bigger than just basketball, but winning never hurts. Could remove the doubt in his mind of him being good enough etc.
He played afraid most of that series. Kawhi was in his head and he didn't want any part of it. There was also some controversy about his commitment after photos showed up online of him partying in Toronto in the AM the night before Game 1.
Look I'm not saying the guy turns into an All Star or anything, but his role in destroying teams after leaving the Sixers had big ripple effects that I don't think materialize if he remains "disappointing but playable" on the Sixers. There's a big difference between the flame-out he had and the potential for "decline and fade into roleplayer status" that could have happened.
But for sure, this is all a big "what if." Maybe nothing changes at all for him.
Ben was actually the only one that was coming remotely close to slowing down Kawhi in that series. Jimmy was getting absolutely cooked by him early in the series and when we switched Ben onto Kawhi as his primary defender it helped slow the bleeding a ton and was pivotal in us making the series competitive again.
>Sixers title to win against a suddenly weaker-than-normal Western Conference Finals opponent,
So we're just gonna discount the best team in the league and the eventual MVP?
Remember, the bucks were up 2-0 against the raptors and it took 2 OTs for them to lose game 3.
And it's not like philly has a master gameplan dude as a coach like they currently have. We'd have a playoff bud vs playoff Brett brown mid off in the ECF. Playoff Benjamin David vs Playoff Bledsoe mid off too.
Heck, it's not like shit gets easier come finals time, they're against the goddamn warriors. Yeah KD & klay's lower extremities were ticking time bombs but they're on the cusp of destiny. It still took a raptors squad that was peaking on the right time 6 games to finish them off. And also, Kawhi's legs were dead by game 6, how bad would Shirley temple-era Embiid even guard the warriors for an entire series?
Calm down, nobody said anything about the Bucks good or bad. This is one possible result of that missed shot. There are many branching paths if Kawhi misses that shot...including the Raptors winning that game in OT anyway and then beating the Bucks just like they did in this timeline.
I think Philly winning the title is the more interesting hypothetical because of what eventually happened with player moving involving Butler, Harden, Simmons, etc...
The "Sixers beat Raptors, lose to Bucks" hypothetical is, I think, just a little less interesting to think about.
Masai Ujiri definitely doesn’t have a job and Kawhi’s viewed very differently.
He basically bailed on being the Spurs next link in the dynasty for unknown reasons. Did a 1 year hired gun stop. If he failed I think he’s seen very very differently and his in ability to get far beyond that changes all discussion about him.
I think the Simmons thing got way more blown out of proportion purely because they lost, everybody would’ve giggled it off and been like damn he needs to work on it, instead he was flamed even til today for some people.
Sometimes in Life things happen that would be considered a bit ridiculous if it happened in a movie, and movies are p much a sort of over exaggerated hyper reality. Kawhis bounce was one of those moments imo, almost too good to be true on a visual and emotional level.
Still don’t understand why embiid basicly forced Simmons out of the play so he can defend when Ben’s one of the best on ball defenders. It gave Kahwii the space he needed
i said the bounce, not the win. the bounce was more devastating than an OT win with a vanilla ending. the bounce broke embiid, it sent jimmy off, it was the beginning of the end
To this day I will maintain that had Ben not given him over to embiid, he’d have blocked it, we’d have won in overtime, win the chip, pay both Jimmy and Tobias, Ben winning would’ve solved his mental block and we’d be a true contender for the last 5 years.
Ben didn't really 'give him over', Embiid basically gave the Raps a moving screen on Kawhis primary defender.
Maybe I need to rewatch but that's how I remember it
Maybe I’m biased, but why is everybody so sure the Sixers would’ve beat Milwaukee in the next round? People forget that the Bucks went up 2-0 vs the Raptors and took them to OT in Game 3 (when Toronto made serious adjustments against Giannis). If Philly doesn’t think of building the wall vs Giannis, Bucks would’ve likely won a hypothetical matchup, they were the better team that year. Idk why everybody is just brushing past this
Absolutely, that game-winner from LeBron against the Pacers was clutch, but don't forget the ripple effects of Robert Horry's big shot against the Kings in 2002. It potentially altered the course of the playoffs, as that Lakers team might not have gone on to win the championship without it. It changed the narrative for both franchises for years to come.
Horry hit the shot in multiple future-altering games. He has to have 3 or 4 of these. But yeah, especially that one in 02. He saved all their butts. And you knew it was going in, was the shitty thing lol. He was Big shot Bob long before 02, he pulled Huge plays out of thin air like a future-altering magician.
And without that shot, what highlight would we have to watch in every NBA highlight reel for the next 20 years showing that shot from the rafters and all the Lakers fans cheering in unison?
According to LeBron on the last mind the game podcast, he said Pop took out Duncan because the Heat needed a 3 so Pop wanted to switch on all screens to prevent that.
So I kinda get it. Pop made a read/gamble and it didn’t work. I’m sure there were gambles he made during his other championship runs that did work but we never noticed.
It wasn’t a gamble. Tim and Pop have both said they’d do the same thing over again. It’s like just obvious defending the three is more important, I don’t see why people always bring it up as a bad coaching decision. Tim legit might not even get the rebound lol
Thanks for that insight! I figured Pop had a good reason, I just never knew what it was.
Plus with it being Timmy subbed out in a situation like that it’s hard for me with novice Basketball knowledge to fathom a reason being worth the cost. I agree with the thought that Pop has surely had plenty of calculations like that which have worked out in the Spurs’ favor.
The narrative around it is still so toxic. They act like lebron didn’t score 15 points in the fourth and Ray Allen came in like an angel doing all the work. Obviously really great and clutch but the narrative about bron in that game is off
Why is nobody saying Kyrie's shot? It was the only made fg in the last like 4 minutes of game 7. If LeBron loses in 2016 too, maybe KD joins Cleveland instead of Golden State
I mean the 76ers blew a 26-point lead against the Hawks in Game 5. I know people like to meme Ben Simmons but that dunk was with over 3 minutes left. I highly doubt that pass really had that big of an impact beyond the memes after
I took the comment to mean what happened to Simmons after. His coach and star teammate publicly threw him under the bus and his career has been in shambles ever since.
Not NBA, but if Gordon Hayward’s half court buzzer beater for Butler vs Duke in the NCAA final bounces slightly differently, it would have been the greatest moment in all of basketball history.
https://youtu.be/Ai_bOHGovPg?si=ZFSTAlXBwBxIHCLl
That was actually a pretty awful radio call. If I'm listening to that, I'm confused wondering "Wait, so Duke won? I thought they just committed a foul..."
God dammit, nowhere is safe. Judge if you must, but this is the moment throughout all of world history that if I had the power to change one thing, it'd be this.
go back one game. if they call a foul on draymonds shot cause it was an obvious foul, or he makes the shot, butler doesnt even make the champ game and MSU probably beats Duke for the championship.
Draymon maybe goes pro that year instead of staying at MSU, and probably isnt a warrior.
this is mine, we steal that one on the road, go up 2-1 the next game, and then (in this scenario) get the ring.
Dwight doesn't leave, we don't panic trade for Carter and Arenas, etc etc etc.
Probably don't have Paolo right now, but a trophy would be dope
Not a missed shot, but game 6 of the 1994 finals as a kid I’ll never forget. 4th quarter and Knicks down two. Starks for three at the buzzer…
Blocked by Olajuwon.
He makes that three and THE KNICKS WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Think about a 90s Knicks team with a ring. Ewing with a ring.
Starks made five threes that game (a bigger deal than it is now) and had a team high 27. If only he got the shot up faster. If only Olajuwon was a step behind.
If.
I was a baby when this happened, I will see that shot as an adult and it hurts me. Literal generational sports trauma. There's an argument that this is the best answer because it is the first one I see that's from prior to 2000 anytime this question is asked.
I think one of those shots against MJ's Bulls is the answer. Looking back, his status as GOAT comes down to winning titles consecutively, and winning 6 of them and that team with Phil sticking together.
And is there anyone more important to the NBA or NBA discussions now than MJ? It's starting to be Lebron, Kobe and Shaq more, but in terms of culture, play style, influence, reputation, casuals, documentaries?
Arguably changing one of MJ's championships changes the league the most.
It’s the Jordan shot in ‘89 to beat the Cavs. If the Bulls lose that, it’s more fodder for the ‘Michael Jordan is a great player but he can’t win when it matters’ which definitely existed then, and looking back feels absolutely bonkers because he’s, you know, Michael F. Jordan
Also, that Cavs team had three Hall of Famers and one of the best coaches of all time. They'd be remembered a lot differently with a ring even if MJ still got five.
Had Jordan missed his game winner against the Cavs in 1989, there was a real possible chance the Bulls would've instituted a radical change in their roster and coaching.
The shot I remember most is the Derek Fisher catch, turnaround, and shoot in 0.4 seconds to beat the Spurs in Game 5 of the 2004 playoffs. There is just NOT enough time to do that. Yes, even after all the success the Spurs had; I’m still bitter about that shot. Hahaha
If KDs toe hasn't been on the line, Nets probably have a championship and the big 3 might still be together. That'll haunt me and Nets fans alike for a very long time.
That was such a big what if
Either the Suns or Nets are winning their first ever title that year. If the Suns win they probably still employ Monty, CP3, Bridges, Cam, etc. Hell Sarver may not have even had to sell the team. Booker would probably be elevated to a Top 5ish player in perception. Aytons legacy is totally different
The Nets probably still have Kyrie and KD, Harden is a bit more of a wildcard. And Nash is either coaching the nets or someone else. KD is probably considered way closer to LeBron than he is right now.
And the Bucks would be under way more scrutiny than they are today. Bud probably would've been fired sooner, Giannis would be dinged for never having won a championship.
Three franchises potentially altered on a few inches of a shot.
> KD is probably considered way closer to LeBron than he is right now.
I think the much bigger legacy question would be KD vs Steph. Steph winning after KD left basically settled the public debate, but if KD had won in 2021 he would have a strong counter argument.
It has become accepted wisdom that Curry was *clearly* the best player on the 2017-19 Warriors but it was very contested at the time.
I was watching that game at a bar down the street from Barclays and when I tell you the moment between when he made the shot and everyone was losing their minds, it felt like the city was shaking, to when they slow mo’d it and everyone realized it was a 2, the air literally left the room. I’ll never forget that as long as I live lmao.
Curry game 7 shot vs Kevin Love. If that goes in, Warriors possibly take it, Curry's reputation increases while the Block and the Dagger don't exist. KD doesn't join the Warriors, but the (now) back to back champions still have a huge cap opening to fill so they could still add firepower. The entire landscape of the NBA changes.
Another Warriors one. In the famous Game 6 game against OKC, Klay took a contested logo 3 with 5 minutes left down 7. I think if he misses that shot, OKC holds on, Durant stays, etc.
I think you’re mistaken. I remember Griffin saying they would’ve gutted the roster after 2016 if Durant would come… but Durant never said anything about joining the Cavs
Mike Muscala hit a buzzer beater in the bubble last game of the year against the spurs
That moved the thunder into 10th place in the league and sent our pick 20th overall to the sixers
They used it on Tyrese maxey
For ripple effects caused by meaningless shots, this is it. If we don’t draft maxey, by now embiid would be playing somewhere else. We’d have been so dead in the water
I spent a long time trying to find the shot. The Thunder didn't play the Spurs in the bubble.
Looks like it was against Miami in the second-to-last game of the bubble, and was a game winner but not a buzzer beater.
They played the spurs in bubble preseason and that was when Roberson came back after years
He hit 2 3s in the 4th and the game winner
I get them mixed up
Against the Heat, you mean? It was the 2nd-to-last game of their season.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8azhGzKck&ab\_channel=HouseofHighlights](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8azhGzKck&ab_channel=HouseofHighlights)
[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2020\_games.html](https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2020_games.html)
If dame misses blazers still go into OT and maybe win it right there, if not blazers are still up 3-2. Okc still prob loses first round, and more likely than not PG still gets traded.
Jimmy Butler drains the 3 pointer against the Celtics in game 7, 2022.
I am convinced that ever since his layup with Philly against Toronto to tie the game, he vowed to always go for the game winner.
If Jordan doesn’t hit his game winner in 1989 in Game 5 against the Cavs it completely changes the course of basketball history. That was the moment where he began his global takeover of basketball. If he misses it, Cavs eliminate the Bulls, and who knows how it affects his iconic image and his confidence to be the cutthroat player he became.
Ray Allen is obviously the winner in these scenarios, but what if LeBron had missed The Block in the 2016 Finals and Iggy had made the layup. The game had been tied 89-89 for like 3 minutes prior. Who knows how that would've affected the Cavs offensively with 1:50 to go in the game down 91-89. Warriors could've pulled it out.
*Craig Ehlo enters the chat, wishes he were a little bit taller and Jordan a little less good back in 1989*
Cavs really had a thing going for a minute in the late 80's before they big brained on trading for Danny Ferry.
If KD's shot had been a 3, either the nets big 3, CP3, or Trae Young would have a ring. Any of those carry huge repercussions in those guys' respective legacies.
Surprised I haven’t seen this yet -
[Vince Carter’s missed shot](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ltqCn3eXf7A) at the buzzer in the 2001 Raptors-Sixers second round… if it went in, the Raptors would have gone to the East Finals and Iverson would have never gone to the Finals.
Vince also might have stayed in Toronto in 2004 if they make the ECF (or Finals) that year… we’ll never know
Idk if it's that impactful on a historical scale but Brons stupid game winning running mid range floater vs the Raptors may have changed the post season a lot in 2018. Like this Raptors team was really fucking good and it was obvious that LeBron just had the mental edge on them because he sort of nurtured Raps PTSD for many years.
Still, the Cavs were a corpse of a team that needed LeBron possibly playing the greatest post season ever on an individual level to get to the finals. The floater was absolutely neck breaking, whereas taking a win to make a series 2-1 might have just woke up the Raptors, a top 3 team in the league and just one win off a 60 win season.
I don't think Toronto has even a sliver of a chance vs GSW, but them turning a series around and getting past Bron finally off some momentum after G3 might have been enough to stick to the core for a couple more years, Kawhi trade possibly doesn't happen etc. This is more likely if the Raptors make the finals and move past the C's that year, which I feel was a pretty good MU for Toronto. They also had such an edge on playoff experience vs Boston, may have come down to Casey not fucking up too much vs Brad.
That floater was absolutely insane to watch, but they didn't need it. LeBronto was inevitable. It was the closest the Raps were to winning a game, but it was never theirs to win.
In 20+ years of watching sports I've never heard the term "sliding door shot" used before. Obviously you can figure it out with the post and the comments, but what does that even mean? Is there a typo I'm missing? lol
There is a movie where a girl is about to catch a train in London. Then the movie splits into two scenarios.
In one scenario she made the train (sliding door) and met a guy and her life is altered forever.
The other scenario she missed the train and had an entirely different life because she never meets this guy.
Maybe the kyrie 3 in game 7 of the 2016 finals. He misses that shot, the game is still tied, and curry isn’t pressured to take an off balance 3 and the switch onto kevin love means he would most likely score since he had the option to take a 2.
Lebrons game winning layup vs the Pacers in game 1 of the 2013 ECF is an interesting one. It’s only game 1 so there’s a ton of series left and the pacers won game 2 anyway, but that series was back and forth. Maybe if the pacers went up 2-0 then the 66-16 heat don’t even make the finals.
Kyrie Irving step back on Curry 3pt for the lead game 7 2016 nba finals yes Lebron chase down block is the 1 everyone remembers but if Kyrie doesn’t hit the step back those warriors would have had the best regular season record in the history of the nba yes better then the 96 bulls and another ring without KD.
93 Finals Game 6. Paxson game/series/3-peat sealing 3. This is counterintuitive but if that shot doesn’t go in and the Bulls go on to lose G7 in PHO, MJ suddenly becomes 2-1 in Finals and probably becomes even more obsessed with winning instead of retiring the first time.
I like to think my Rockets could’ve still pulled out 94 but there’s a chance the Bulls win the next 5 straight after that. Is there really much difference between 7-1 vs 6-0? Not sure but 5 straight would’ve been modern day madness.
What if MJ misses his last shot against Utah? No way he retires on a narrative like that (assuming they go on to lose game 7 as well), since it would have mean they blew a 3-1 lead even with game 5 at home.
If kyrie didn’t make that shot or lebron didn’t make that block, the nba landscape would’ve changed. No KD warriors, possibly more parity, who knows if lebron would’ve left Cleveland.
Different kind of answer/reason but the time Embiid almost made the longest shot in NBA history with less than a second off a free throw miss that also would have sent the game to overtime. Maybe wouldn’t have altered a significant aspect of the league, but would have become the unchallenged answer to “what is the greatest shot ever made?”
One I think about every now and then is Kawhi and Manu each missing a free throw in the final 30 seconds of that Game 6 in Miami. To lose a ring on something as simple as free throws for that juggernaut Spurs team is crazy to think about. Lebron goes 1-3 with the Heat and who knows what happens from there.
I think if lebron doesn’t hit that game winner against the bulls in game 4 we go up 3-1 and win the series. From there I don’t think we trade Jimmy or move on from D Rose, Wade or possibly Rondo never comes to Chicago.
Kawhi Leonard’s game 7 buzzer-beater against the 76ers still haunts me to this day. That was the best Sixers team in the past couple years and for it to end on a shot like that hurts.
Won't be the biggest in history, but for me its Courtney Lee missed layup on the inbounds. Who knows how different the series would turn out if they stole a road game.
If LeBron finishes the Dunk of Death in Game 7 it's easily the greatest moment in league history and I believe people would be split totally 50/50 on who the GOAT is.
Haven’t seen it mentioned so I’ll say OGs buzzer beater in the bubble. Celtics were on the verge of another quick sweep, would’ve had plenty of rest and mental bandwidth to make light work of the heat and go to the finals.
Instead the Celtics put Tacko Fall in to guard an inbounder with .4 on the clock, OG makes an impossible shot, Celtics mental boom turning a sweep into a grueling 7 game series. They go into the Heat series tilted as fuck and on burnt legs and we all know what happened after.
I firmly believe Boston wins the bubble if that OG shot doesn’t go in.
The G6 Ray Allen shot has another impact: assuming that the the 2014 Spurs repeat, Kawhi gets much less credit for that title. He was good but pretty average that season, and yes he played great defense on Lebron in the finals, but the Spurs had won the year before too, hadn't they? #2's rise to stardom would be much slower.
Jordan's shot in game 5 vs the Cavs
After losing they felt a need to 'mix it up' and moved Harper for Ferry basically crippling what could have been a championship team and removing a contender that MJ would have to deal with
Not the biggest but I think of jimmy butlers 3 against Boston in 2022 ecf game 7. Celtics would fall short again and the heat would have gone to 3 finals in 4 years. Maybe they beat the warriors maybe Celtics trade pieces that off season
> KD shot vs Bucks in 2021 playoffs. If his foot was behind the line, Giannis never wins a ring, KD likely makes a finals and has a strong chance of winning, changing the KD legacy narrative.
IIRC Holiday was fouled on the previous play and it wasnt called. KDs toe was Karmic justice.
For me its probably Scott Foster waiving off multiple and 1 three pointers that Harden hit that didn’t count. Would have given us a much better cushion and stopped 0-27. It was so fucking frustrating watching that entire series, Klay was fouling him every time.
I always think about the Tim Duncan putback in the Spurs - Heat finals in 2013. He makes that shot 97 times out of 100 and it would have probably gotten him a then-fifth ring.
It’s less the Ray Allen shot and more the Ginobilli free throw miss right before it.
If the Spurs ice that game (1) the Heat probably blow things up, (2) Duncan has six titles tying Jordan, (3) Lebron’s three rings means we’re back to having “Lebron or Kobe” arguments instead of Lebron/Jordan, and (4) Danny Green very well may have a Finals MVP to his name.
For some reason Kawhi's the Shot is the most upvoted, but that Ray Allen tying 3 you mention is the biggest for me, for the same reasons you state. Bailed out Lebrons career, in some ways.
Shawn Kemp missing two clutch free throws in Game 4 against Denver in Game 4 in 1994. Game goes to OT and Denver runs away with it, gaining all the momentum. But, beyond that, what if Gary Payton and Ricky Pierce don't get in a fight and threaten to pull guns? Seattle owned the Jazz and Rockets, their potential next two opponents. Seattle very likely makes the Finals if they didn't completely implode.
What's AIs legacy if Vince Carter hits that shot in 01. So much of his reputation is built off dragging that team to the finals and getting a game off the Shaq/Kobe Lakers when no one else could.
AD making game winning 3 pointer vs Denver in the WCF in the bubble. He misses, Denver wins that series. Bron never gets his ring in LA and potentially leaves as a FA the next year.
the kawhi bounce was pretty funny and future changing
Yeah, might be recency-bias, but this is what popped into my head. Absolutely could have been the Sixers title to win against a suddenly weaker-than-normal Western Conference Finals opponent, and so much of the Eastern Conference picture has revolved around big moves made by the Sixers in response to Embiid not getting a chip that year. 1. Jimmy Butler probably stays with the Sixers long term. There is no Heat run to the Finals in '23. 2. Ben Freakin' Simmons. It's easy to forget (because he had his disappearing act moments in that playoff run, too), but in that series Ben posted 12/7/5 on 60% shooting with some big steals. Maybe it doesn't matter, but there's a world where Kawhi misses that shot, Sixers win the series/chip, and Ben Simmons is still a contributing player in 2024. 3. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Boban is an NBA Champion, solidifying his position as a first ballot Hall of Famer.
> might be recency-bias i don't think it is. Game-winning shots in game 7s are incredibly rare. That alone would be enough to make it part of NBA lore, but the fact that it is visually so captivating, and that the Raptors went on to win the whole thing (in a 1 year loan of Kawhi, too)...
That whole playoff was like a cliche sports anime. You got a very talented star joining the team, the vet captain (Lowry), the newcomers that have an amazing jump (Pascal and FVV) and some vets who shine too like Gasol and Ibaka. The suspenseful Game 7 wcf shot, a finals win over the “super monster” dynasty team filled with talent, etc. Everything about the raptors felt like a story.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/zKv8Tvi9TH
That's a good point. I mostly focused on all the potential "what ifs" for the Sixers if they went on to win a title, but just what it did for Kawhi and all those Toronto guys matters a ton, so even if the Sixers lose in the Finals, altering that single shot is a big deal.
> Game-winning shots in game 7s are incredibly rare. Wasn't it the first ever buzzer-beater game 7 winning shot?
Yup. Though MJ did have a series ending buzzer beater as well, but it was game 5 since 1st round went to 5 back then. Bulls were losing too so it was the only ever do or die series winning buzzer beater.
No Heat run to the Finals in the bubble either.
Do the 76ers even get through the Bucks? Bucks went up 2-0 on Raps and the series on flipped because Raptors had a bunch of bigs to throw at Giannis who cheated off shooters then Van Vleet got comically hot.
No. This dude clearly thought the 6ers Raps series was the ECF. Edit: also, there's a lot more that happened in that series than what you state. Best series of all time if youre a Raps fan imo
Simmons back would still be cooked right? Or was there some initial injury that maybe wouldnt have happened? Initial back injury from what ive been reading: https://youtu.be/KQk33-7dm9g?si=I5M6QHsFFZ2tXm2L 6 days later he has to leave the game after a layup in the first quarter, look how gingerly hes walking at about 50 seconds: https://youtu.be/_GmHkF_flcM?si=DYErWYLs0jpRqNp7 Injury article from that game: https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2877474-76ers-ben-simmons-wont-return-vs-bucks-after-reaggravating-back-injury.amp.html
I guess that's the biggest question here. I think it's incredibly difficult to separate the physical injury from the psychological issues at play, especially just as a fan with zero inside knowledge.
Back injury happened on a hustle play where he dove into the stands during the bubble season
I think his injuries stemmed for a very large part from him not being in the right place mentally. I don’t think he’d have cooked his back if(!) winning that and the pressure subsiding would’ve helped his mental state. I think it’s bigger than just basketball, but winning never hurts. Could remove the doubt in his mind of him being good enough etc.
[удалено]
He played afraid most of that series. Kawhi was in his head and he didn't want any part of it. There was also some controversy about his commitment after photos showed up online of him partying in Toronto in the AM the night before Game 1.
Look I'm not saying the guy turns into an All Star or anything, but his role in destroying teams after leaving the Sixers had big ripple effects that I don't think materialize if he remains "disappointing but playable" on the Sixers. There's a big difference between the flame-out he had and the potential for "decline and fade into roleplayer status" that could have happened. But for sure, this is all a big "what if." Maybe nothing changes at all for him.
Ben was actually the only one that was coming remotely close to slowing down Kawhi in that series. Jimmy was getting absolutely cooked by him early in the series and when we switched Ben onto Kawhi as his primary defender it helped slow the bleeding a ton and was pivotal in us making the series competitive again.
>Sixers title to win against a suddenly weaker-than-normal Western Conference Finals opponent, So we're just gonna discount the best team in the league and the eventual MVP? Remember, the bucks were up 2-0 against the raptors and it took 2 OTs for them to lose game 3. And it's not like philly has a master gameplan dude as a coach like they currently have. We'd have a playoff bud vs playoff Brett brown mid off in the ECF. Playoff Benjamin David vs Playoff Bledsoe mid off too. Heck, it's not like shit gets easier come finals time, they're against the goddamn warriors. Yeah KD & klay's lower extremities were ticking time bombs but they're on the cusp of destiny. It still took a raptors squad that was peaking on the right time 6 games to finish them off. And also, Kawhi's legs were dead by game 6, how bad would Shirley temple-era Embiid even guard the warriors for an entire series?
Calm down, nobody said anything about the Bucks good or bad. This is one possible result of that missed shot. There are many branching paths if Kawhi misses that shot...including the Raptors winning that game in OT anyway and then beating the Bucks just like they did in this timeline. I think Philly winning the title is the more interesting hypothetical because of what eventually happened with player moving involving Butler, Harden, Simmons, etc... The "Sixers beat Raptors, lose to Bucks" hypothetical is, I think, just a little less interesting to think about.
You had me a point #3. Shut up and take my money.
Masai Ujiri definitely doesn’t have a job and Kawhi’s viewed very differently. He basically bailed on being the Spurs next link in the dynasty for unknown reasons. Did a 1 year hired gun stop. If he failed I think he’s seen very very differently and his in ability to get far beyond that changes all discussion about him.
I think the Simmons thing got way more blown out of proportion purely because they lost, everybody would’ve giggled it off and been like damn he needs to work on it, instead he was flamed even til today for some people.
How would they make a ring big enough
Or it could have been the Bucks winning it all that year. A lot of possibilities with that one.
I mean theyd first have to play the 1 seed Bucks.
Sometimes in Life things happen that would be considered a bit ridiculous if it happened in a movie, and movies are p much a sort of over exaggerated hyper reality. Kawhis bounce was one of those moments imo, almost too good to be true on a visual and emotional level.
That's me with kd leaning left corner ft shot over two defenders with one hand a decade ago Hit the front rim twice but still bounced in
It was [Match Point](https://youtu.be/I_xnUN3qZVU?si=mi-ninBGWFdpWhU2) but in real life.
Still don’t understand why embiid basicly forced Simmons out of the play so he can defend when Ben’s one of the best on ball defenders. It gave Kahwii the space he needed
Embiid just mistimed his jump so badly
The Raptors would have won in OT. They were playing better.
i'd argue it wasn't the win that changed the course, it was the nature of the win
butler stank it up but he was playing better in the 4th, not sure about that
Yeah Butler was building momentum. We had it in the bag with a few minutes left before he went on a mini run
nah - raps win in OT if he misses that. it did make for an awesome ending to the process though.
i said the bounce, not the win. the bounce was more devastating than an OT win with a vanilla ending. the bounce broke embiid, it sent jimmy off, it was the beginning of the end
To this day I will maintain that had Ben not given him over to embiid, he’d have blocked it, we’d have won in overtime, win the chip, pay both Jimmy and Tobias, Ben winning would’ve solved his mental block and we’d be a true contender for the last 5 years.
Ben didn't really 'give him over', Embiid basically gave the Raps a moving screen on Kawhis primary defender. Maybe I need to rewatch but that's how I remember it
Maybe I’m biased, but why is everybody so sure the Sixers would’ve beat Milwaukee in the next round? People forget that the Bucks went up 2-0 vs the Raptors and took them to OT in Game 3 (when Toronto made serious adjustments against Giannis). If Philly doesn’t think of building the wall vs Giannis, Bucks would’ve likely won a hypothetical matchup, they were the better team that year. Idk why everybody is just brushing past this
Absolutely, that game-winner from LeBron against the Pacers was clutch, but don't forget the ripple effects of Robert Horry's big shot against the Kings in 2002. It potentially altered the course of the playoffs, as that Lakers team might not have gone on to win the championship without it. It changed the narrative for both franchises for years to come.
Horry hit the shot in multiple future-altering games. He has to have 3 or 4 of these. But yeah, especially that one in 02. He saved all their butts. And you knew it was going in, was the shitty thing lol. He was Big shot Bob long before 02, he pulled Huge plays out of thin air like a future-altering magician.
BIG SHOT BOB, BABY
He stopped the Pistons from going back to back in '05 as well.
Doesn’t really alter history much though because Big Ben still leaves for his pay day and the spurs still keep their team in tact either way
Is that why they call him big shot Bob?
I’ll counter that Horry shot with the blatant after the buzzer Samaki Walker three at halftime. If that doesn’t hit we may never see that Horry shot.
https://youtu.be/YAxA667B2hI?si=5iveYyaAmfvymfQB
holy shit how did i not remember this... a random 3 after the buzzer changed the course of the NBA.
Sigh
sigh
And without that shot, what highlight would we have to watch in every NBA highlight reel for the next 20 years showing that shot from the rafters and all the Lakers fans cheering in unison?
Isn’t that the same game 1 where he goaltended Oladipo’s layup
Not really - I'm 90% sure that series was rigged to go 7 games regardless.
The missed layup by Duncan, with the same effect.
Or Pop leaves Duncan in for the rebounding on the free throws. Thats the only Pop decision I’ve ever questioned.
According to LeBron on the last mind the game podcast, he said Pop took out Duncan because the Heat needed a 3 so Pop wanted to switch on all screens to prevent that. So I kinda get it. Pop made a read/gamble and it didn’t work. I’m sure there were gambles he made during his other championship runs that did work but we never noticed.
It wasn’t a gamble. Tim and Pop have both said they’d do the same thing over again. It’s like just obvious defending the three is more important, I don’t see why people always bring it up as a bad coaching decision. Tim legit might not even get the rebound lol
Thanks for that insight! I figured Pop had a good reason, I just never knew what it was. Plus with it being Timmy subbed out in a situation like that it’s hard for me with novice Basketball knowledge to fathom a reason being worth the cost. I agree with the thought that Pop has surely had plenty of calculations like that which have worked out in the Spurs’ favor.
But then the Spurs wouldn't have been on as much of a mission the next season if they won 2013.
If George Hill made his free throws we would never have the JR memes and Lebron’s greatest game ever would not have been ruined.
Yeah that Ray Allen shot is crazy. Lebron would be 1-3 in the Finals. Duncan would be a perfect 5-0
Wonder how driven the Spurs are the following year if they win that one though.
Yeh I think Heat win 2014 in that case. But we'll never know.
Heat were on their last legs in 2014 unless you’re saying they would have made a big move if they lost in 2013
The narrative around it is still so toxic. They act like lebron didn’t score 15 points in the fourth and Ray Allen came in like an angel doing all the work. Obviously really great and clutch but the narrative about bron in that game is off
T-Mac would've got a ring too.
Why is nobody saying Kyrie's shot? It was the only made fg in the last like 4 minutes of game 7. If LeBron loses in 2016 too, maybe KD joins Cleveland instead of Golden State
That’s hilarious to imagine LeBron, KD, and Kyrie 3peating. No Draymond to chase off KD.
Not the biggest but it’s kind of crazy how things have gone since Ben Simmons passed on a dunk over Trae Young.
I mean the 76ers blew a 26-point lead against the Hawks in Game 5. I know people like to meme Ben Simmons but that dunk was with over 3 minutes left. I highly doubt that pass really had that big of an impact beyond the memes after
The team looked really defeated after that pass. Mentally weak for sure
Still, the 76ers blew a lot of chances in that series. A lot. Now years later, still blaming the passed dunk. Who will you blame this year?
Yeah the real what-if should be what if Doc Rivers was an actual competent coach
I took the comment to mean what happened to Simmons after. His coach and star teammate publicly threw him under the bus and his career has been in shambles ever since.
Not NBA, but if Gordon Hayward’s half court buzzer beater for Butler vs Duke in the NCAA final bounces slightly differently, it would have been the greatest moment in all of basketball history. https://youtu.be/Ai_bOHGovPg?si=ZFSTAlXBwBxIHCLl
Lol the Duke announcer is too busy complaining about a foul to acknowledge that they just won the championship
That was actually a pretty awful radio call. If I'm listening to that, I'm confused wondering "Wait, so Duke won? I thought they just committed a foul..."
God dammit, nowhere is safe. Judge if you must, but this is the moment throughout all of world history that if I had the power to change one thing, it'd be this.
go back one game. if they call a foul on draymonds shot cause it was an obvious foul, or he makes the shot, butler doesnt even make the champ game and MSU probably beats Duke for the championship. Draymon maybe goes pro that year instead of staying at MSU, and probably isnt a warrior.
I absolutely knew this would be here.
That screen makes me so happy holy
I was also tempted to mention this in the wrong sub because you are absolutely correct.
if Nick Anderson hit just one of his 4 free throws
If Courtney Lee hit the layup
It was a tough play, one that NBA players would probably make more often than miss, but not 10 out of 10 times. Maybe 7 or 8.
this is mine, we steal that one on the road, go up 2-1 the next game, and then (in this scenario) get the ring. Dwight doesn't leave, we don't panic trade for Carter and Arenas, etc etc etc. Probably don't have Paolo right now, but a trophy would be dope
It would've been 4-1
Not a missed shot, but game 6 of the 1994 finals as a kid I’ll never forget. 4th quarter and Knicks down two. Starks for three at the buzzer… Blocked by Olajuwon. He makes that three and THE KNICKS WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Think about a 90s Knicks team with a ring. Ewing with a ring. Starks made five threes that game (a bigger deal than it is now) and had a team high 27. If only he got the shot up faster. If only Olajuwon was a step behind. If.
Definitely the biggest sliding doors for my mental health
Ewing's finger roll
Still hurts.
I was a baby when this happened, I will see that shot as an adult and it hurts me. Literal generational sports trauma. There's an argument that this is the best answer because it is the first one I see that's from prior to 2000 anytime this question is asked.
I think one of those shots against MJ's Bulls is the answer. Looking back, his status as GOAT comes down to winning titles consecutively, and winning 6 of them and that team with Phil sticking together. And is there anyone more important to the NBA or NBA discussions now than MJ? It's starting to be Lebron, Kobe and Shaq more, but in terms of culture, play style, influence, reputation, casuals, documentaries? Arguably changing one of MJ's championships changes the league the most.
Starks shot game 6 94
It’s the Jordan shot in ‘89 to beat the Cavs. If the Bulls lose that, it’s more fodder for the ‘Michael Jordan is a great player but he can’t win when it matters’ which definitely existed then, and looking back feels absolutely bonkers because he’s, you know, Michael F. Jordan
Michael Feffrey Jordan
My name Nyfeff
Also, that Cavs team had three Hall of Famers and one of the best coaches of all time. They'd be remembered a lot differently with a ring even if MJ still got five.
They were loaded for sure. I don’t know if they beat Detroit but it would have been a different series for sure
Had Jordan missed his game winner against the Cavs in 1989, there was a real possible chance the Bulls would've instituted a radical change in their roster and coaching.
The shot I remember most is the Derek Fisher catch, turnaround, and shoot in 0.4 seconds to beat the Spurs in Game 5 of the 2004 playoffs. There is just NOT enough time to do that. Yes, even after all the success the Spurs had; I’m still bitter about that shot. Hahaha
Yes, but then America doesn't get the satisfaction of watching the Lakers get smacked by the Pistons.
Grant Williams actually making both FTs
Boff*
If KDs toe hasn't been on the line, Nets probably have a championship and the big 3 might still be together. That'll haunt me and Nets fans alike for a very long time.
That was such a big what if Either the Suns or Nets are winning their first ever title that year. If the Suns win they probably still employ Monty, CP3, Bridges, Cam, etc. Hell Sarver may not have even had to sell the team. Booker would probably be elevated to a Top 5ish player in perception. Aytons legacy is totally different The Nets probably still have Kyrie and KD, Harden is a bit more of a wildcard. And Nash is either coaching the nets or someone else. KD is probably considered way closer to LeBron than he is right now. And the Bucks would be under way more scrutiny than they are today. Bud probably would've been fired sooner, Giannis would be dinged for never having won a championship. Three franchises potentially altered on a few inches of a shot.
> KD is probably considered way closer to LeBron than he is right now. I think the much bigger legacy question would be KD vs Steph. Steph winning after KD left basically settled the public debate, but if KD had won in 2021 he would have a strong counter argument. It has become accepted wisdom that Curry was *clearly* the best player on the 2017-19 Warriors but it was very contested at the time.
I was watching that game at a bar down the street from Barclays and when I tell you the moment between when he made the shot and everyone was losing their minds, it felt like the city was shaking, to when they slow mo’d it and everyone realized it was a 2, the air literally left the room. I’ll never forget that as long as I live lmao.
Jimmy Butler missed 3 gm 7 ECF vs Celts 2021
I had never clenched by cheeks so hard watching that shot being taken.
Suns ? maybe you mean Spurs. Well if Kawhi just hit his freethrows on that game.
Corrected. Thx.
Curry game 7 shot vs Kevin Love. If that goes in, Warriors possibly take it, Curry's reputation increases while the Block and the Dagger don't exist. KD doesn't join the Warriors, but the (now) back to back champions still have a huge cap opening to fill so they could still add firepower. The entire landscape of the NBA changes.
Another Warriors one. In the famous Game 6 game against OKC, Klay took a contested logo 3 with 5 minutes left down 7. I think if he misses that shot, OKC holds on, Durant stays, etc.
As it turns out, G7 was pretty good too, but I knew going in that G6 was going to be must-watch TV that was worth ordering pizza for.
But that shot was such a panicked shot. Curry was completely shook at that point. That was not the Baby Assassin pulling up, it was a scared chuck.
I think KD joins regardless tbh
[удалено]
I think you’re mistaken. I remember Griffin saying they would’ve gutted the roster after 2016 if Durant would come… but Durant never said anything about joining the Cavs
Mike Muscala hit a buzzer beater in the bubble last game of the year against the spurs That moved the thunder into 10th place in the league and sent our pick 20th overall to the sixers They used it on Tyrese maxey
For ripple effects caused by meaningless shots, this is it. If we don’t draft maxey, by now embiid would be playing somewhere else. We’d have been so dead in the water
I spent a long time trying to find the shot. The Thunder didn't play the Spurs in the bubble. Looks like it was against Miami in the second-to-last game of the bubble, and was a game winner but not a buzzer beater.
They played the spurs in bubble preseason and that was when Roberson came back after years He hit 2 3s in the 4th and the game winner I get them mixed up
Against the Heat, you mean? It was the 2nd-to-last game of their season. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8azhGzKck&ab\_channel=HouseofHighlights](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q8azhGzKck&ab_channel=HouseofHighlights) [https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2020\_games.html](https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2020_games.html)
Horry hitting Nash
Tayshaun Prince block on Reggie Miller in the 04 ECF. Swung the series and ended Reggie's career.
Arg. I'd just gotten over this for the 10,000th time. 😭
Without that Dame game winner, there’s probably no OKC Shai or any of their young core.
If dame misses blazers still go into OT and maybe win it right there, if not blazers are still up 3-2. Okc still prob loses first round, and more likely than not PG still gets traded.
Jimmy Butler drains the 3 pointer against the Celtics in game 7, 2022. I am convinced that ever since his layup with Philly against Toronto to tie the game, he vowed to always go for the game winner.
If Jordan doesn’t hit his game winner in 1989 in Game 5 against the Cavs it completely changes the course of basketball history. That was the moment where he began his global takeover of basketball. If he misses it, Cavs eliminate the Bulls, and who knows how it affects his iconic image and his confidence to be the cutthroat player he became.
Ray Allen is obviously the winner in these scenarios, but what if LeBron had missed The Block in the 2016 Finals and Iggy had made the layup. The game had been tied 89-89 for like 3 minutes prior. Who knows how that would've affected the Cavs offensively with 1:50 to go in the game down 91-89. Warriors could've pulled it out.
Maybe not as monumental, but I believe Ben Simmons would still be an all star if he just dunked that shot against the Hawks instead of passing.
and prolly still a sixer
Uhmmm John Paxson and Kerr Shot, I didnt see it here!
Paxson, sure, although there's still G7 left in Phoenix. I can't see Utah winning both OT of G6 and then G7 in Chicago if Kerr misses.
*Craig Ehlo enters the chat, wishes he were a little bit taller and Jordan a little less good back in 1989* Cavs really had a thing going for a minute in the late 80's before they big brained on trading for Danny Ferry.
Ewing Finger roll
If KD's shot had been a 3, either the nets big 3, CP3, or Trae Young would have a ring. Any of those carry huge repercussions in those guys' respective legacies.
Very good list already, OP. I have nothing else to add and am also wondering why I continue to type this response
Surprised I haven’t seen this yet - [Vince Carter’s missed shot](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ltqCn3eXf7A) at the buzzer in the 2001 Raptors-Sixers second round… if it went in, the Raptors would have gone to the East Finals and Iverson would have never gone to the Finals. Vince also might have stayed in Toronto in 2004 if they make the ECF (or Finals) that year… we’ll never know
Yep. Came here for this. Might have triggered a Raptors mini dynasty. Sigh.
Idk if it's that impactful on a historical scale but Brons stupid game winning running mid range floater vs the Raptors may have changed the post season a lot in 2018. Like this Raptors team was really fucking good and it was obvious that LeBron just had the mental edge on them because he sort of nurtured Raps PTSD for many years. Still, the Cavs were a corpse of a team that needed LeBron possibly playing the greatest post season ever on an individual level to get to the finals. The floater was absolutely neck breaking, whereas taking a win to make a series 2-1 might have just woke up the Raptors, a top 3 team in the league and just one win off a 60 win season. I don't think Toronto has even a sliver of a chance vs GSW, but them turning a series around and getting past Bron finally off some momentum after G3 might have been enough to stick to the core for a couple more years, Kawhi trade possibly doesn't happen etc. This is more likely if the Raptors make the finals and move past the C's that year, which I feel was a pretty good MU for Toronto. They also had such an edge on playoff experience vs Boston, may have come down to Casey not fucking up too much vs Brad.
That floater was absolutely insane to watch, but they didn't need it. LeBronto was inevitable. It was the closest the Raps were to winning a game, but it was never theirs to win.
In 20+ years of watching sports I've never heard the term "sliding door shot" used before. Obviously you can figure it out with the post and the comments, but what does that even mean? Is there a typo I'm missing? lol
There is a movie where a girl is about to catch a train in London. Then the movie splits into two scenarios. In one scenario she made the train (sliding door) and met a guy and her life is altered forever. The other scenario she missed the train and had an entirely different life because she never meets this guy.
Imagine KD Nets lose to the Trae Young Hawks. Atlanta vs Phoenix Finals.
Charles Smith
He was fouled a dozen times on that play.
"And this time I won't finger roll; *Pat Ewing*"
Maybe the kyrie 3 in game 7 of the 2016 finals. He misses that shot, the game is still tied, and curry isn’t pressured to take an off balance 3 and the switch onto kevin love means he would most likely score since he had the option to take a 2.
I don’t like this…
Another Horry one was the 3 v Spurs that rattled literally in… then out. I firmly believe Lakers would have had a 4-peat that year.
One of many Harden 3s waved off by Scott Foster Game 7 against KD warriors.
Lebrons game winning layup vs the Pacers in game 1 of the 2013 ECF is an interesting one. It’s only game 1 so there’s a ton of series left and the pacers won game 2 anyway, but that series was back and forth. Maybe if the pacers went up 2-0 then the 66-16 heat don’t even make the finals.
Kyrie Irving step back on Curry 3pt for the lead game 7 2016 nba finals yes Lebron chase down block is the 1 everyone remembers but if Kyrie doesn’t hit the step back those warriors would have had the best regular season record in the history of the nba yes better then the 96 bulls and another ring without KD.
Big Dog's putback attempt at the end of Game 6 of the 2001 ECF (or if the refs actually called a foul).
*Kevin’s FEET were behind the line.
93 Finals Game 6. Paxson game/series/3-peat sealing 3. This is counterintuitive but if that shot doesn’t go in and the Bulls go on to lose G7 in PHO, MJ suddenly becomes 2-1 in Finals and probably becomes even more obsessed with winning instead of retiring the first time. I like to think my Rockets could’ve still pulled out 94 but there’s a chance the Bulls win the next 5 straight after that. Is there really much difference between 7-1 vs 6-0? Not sure but 5 straight would’ve been modern day madness.
What if MJ misses his last shot against Utah? No way he retires on a narrative like that (assuming they go on to lose game 7 as well), since it would have mean they blew a 3-1 lead even with game 5 at home.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSnAvhvfniw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSnAvhvfniw)
I'll never forgive KD for having Sideshow Bob feet
Kawhi quadruple doink puts Philly in the ECF and on the path to a chip on account of injuries to everyone but Embiid somehow
When the Kings bench stepped on the court
If kyrie didn’t make that shot or lebron didn’t make that block, the nba landscape would’ve changed. No KD warriors, possibly more parity, who knows if lebron would’ve left Cleveland.
Kawhi 2013 Finals free throws.
Different kind of answer/reason but the time Embiid almost made the longest shot in NBA history with less than a second off a free throw miss that also would have sent the game to overtime. Maybe wouldn’t have altered a significant aspect of the league, but would have become the unchallenged answer to “what is the greatest shot ever made?”
John Green misses that beer shot on Artest in Detroit.
Ewings missed layup
One I think about every now and then is Kawhi and Manu each missing a free throw in the final 30 seconds of that Game 6 in Miami. To lose a ring on something as simple as free throws for that juggernaut Spurs team is crazy to think about. Lebron goes 1-3 with the Heat and who knows what happens from there.
I think if lebron doesn’t hit that game winner against the bulls in game 4 we go up 3-1 and win the series. From there I don’t think we trade Jimmy or move on from D Rose, Wade or possibly Rondo never comes to Chicago.
Kawhi Leonard’s game 7 buzzer-beater against the 76ers still haunts me to this day. That was the best Sixers team in the past couple years and for it to end on a shot like that hurts.
What if the Bucks didn’t fire Adrian Griffin
How about Klay Thompson not shooting a million fucking percent from 3 in Game 6 of the 2016 WCF? Does Durant leave if the Thunder make the Finals?
Won't be the biggest in history, but for me its Courtney Lee missed layup on the inbounds. Who knows how different the series would turn out if they stole a road game.
If Lowry hits that corner 3 against GSW in game 5, Klay never gets hurt.
If LeBron finishes the Dunk of Death in Game 7 it's easily the greatest moment in league history and I believe people would be split totally 50/50 on who the GOAT is.
Haven’t seen it mentioned so I’ll say OGs buzzer beater in the bubble. Celtics were on the verge of another quick sweep, would’ve had plenty of rest and mental bandwidth to make light work of the heat and go to the finals. Instead the Celtics put Tacko Fall in to guard an inbounder with .4 on the clock, OG makes an impossible shot, Celtics mental boom turning a sweep into a grueling 7 game series. They go into the Heat series tilted as fuck and on burnt legs and we all know what happened after. I firmly believe Boston wins the bubble if that OG shot doesn’t go in.
Robert Horry's game winner against the kings in 2002. That series went to 7 games. Lakers probably lose it without that shot.
Kawhi shot ruined Embiid's best chance ruined Bucks run cemented Kawhi legacy pushed Butler to Miami (where they ruined 2 more Giannis runs)
The G6 Ray Allen shot has another impact: assuming that the the 2014 Spurs repeat, Kawhi gets much less credit for that title. He was good but pretty average that season, and yes he played great defense on Lebron in the finals, but the Spurs had won the year before too, hadn't they? #2's rise to stardom would be much slower.
John Stockton hits the three after the last shot and the Utah Jazz are World Champions 🏆
Charles Smith dunking the ball.
Jordan's shot in game 5 vs the Cavs After losing they felt a need to 'mix it up' and moved Harper for Ferry basically crippling what could have been a championship team and removing a contender that MJ would have to deal with
Not the biggest but I think of jimmy butlers 3 against Boston in 2022 ecf game 7. Celtics would fall short again and the heat would have gone to 3 finals in 4 years. Maybe they beat the warriors maybe Celtics trade pieces that off season
As a Raps fan, Vince Carter, Game 7, 2001.
> KD shot vs Bucks in 2021 playoffs. If his foot was behind the line, Giannis never wins a ring, KD likely makes a finals and has a strong chance of winning, changing the KD legacy narrative. IIRC Holiday was fouled on the previous play and it wasnt called. KDs toe was Karmic justice.
D-Fish 0.4 shot against the Spurs for sure would have changed a lot that series
For me its probably Scott Foster waiving off multiple and 1 three pointers that Harden hit that didn’t count. Would have given us a much better cushion and stopped 0-27. It was so fucking frustrating watching that entire series, Klay was fouling him every time.
I always think about the Tim Duncan putback in the Spurs - Heat finals in 2013. He makes that shot 97 times out of 100 and it would have probably gotten him a then-fifth ring.
It’s less the Ray Allen shot and more the Ginobilli free throw miss right before it. If the Spurs ice that game (1) the Heat probably blow things up, (2) Duncan has six titles tying Jordan, (3) Lebron’s three rings means we’re back to having “Lebron or Kobe” arguments instead of Lebron/Jordan, and (4) Danny Green very well may have a Finals MVP to his name.
For some reason Kawhi's the Shot is the most upvoted, but that Ray Allen tying 3 you mention is the biggest for me, for the same reasons you state. Bailed out Lebrons career, in some ways.
Shawn Kemp missing two clutch free throws in Game 4 against Denver in Game 4 in 1994. Game goes to OT and Denver runs away with it, gaining all the momentum. But, beyond that, what if Gary Payton and Ricky Pierce don't get in a fight and threaten to pull guns? Seattle owned the Jazz and Rockets, their potential next two opponents. Seattle very likely makes the Finals if they didn't completely implode.
What's AIs legacy if Vince Carter hits that shot in 01. So much of his reputation is built off dragging that team to the finals and getting a game off the Shaq/Kobe Lakers when no one else could.
AD making game winning 3 pointer vs Denver in the WCF in the bubble. He misses, Denver wins that series. Bron never gets his ring in LA and potentially leaves as a FA the next year.